Top Places to View Wildflowers

  Photo by Jenn Jackson Peak wildflower season in the Treasure Valley is during late spring and early summer. The Boise foothills host a variety of wildflowers and are a sight to see bursting in color. Popular flowers include bright yellow sagebrush, yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, lupines, and bachelor’s buttons. Hundreds of miles of hiking and biking trails offer abundant opportunites to view these beautiful flowers. Click here to learn more about the state’s wildflowers. Here are the best places to see wildflowers in Boise and nearby.    Homestead Trail: Photo by Jenn Jackson Located along the northeastern edge of Harris Ranch, the Homestead Trail traverses through rolling hills blanketed in lupine and yellow arrowleaf balsamroot. Hikers and bikers can expect a quieter trail, with views overlooking the eastern valley.   Mores Mountain Loop at Bogus Basin: Photo by Jenn Jackson Part of Bogus Basin Recreation Area, the Mores Mountain Loop provides a mountainous retreat less than 45 minutes from downtown Boise. Rugged terrain is contrasted with brilliant flowers, including fiery Indian Paintbrush, with plenty of shaded areas to enjoy the area even in the heat of summer.   Military Reserve Trails: Photo by Jenn Jackson The Military Reserve is a popular area for hikers and bikers due to its convenient location and epic city and mountain views. Various trails wind along the creek in the wooded gulch and up along the ridge with a rewarding picture-perfect view of the downtown skyline.    Hillside to Hollow Reserve: Photo by Jenn Jackson This area nestled between The Highlands and Arrowhead Canyon is a popular destination for hiking, especially for dog owners. The area has several off-leash trails for dogs to run about with bathroom facilities, drinking fountains, and cleanup bag stations. Abundant wildflowers dot the area, including adorable Dwarf Monkeyflowers.   Cervidae Park: One of the 4 Grand Slam peaks in Idaho, this trek is not for the faint of heart. Gaining over 1800 feet of elevation in a span of 2 miles, the view has to be earned. But it is oh so worth it. Highlights include sprawling hilltops covered in sagebrush and yellow flowers and stunning water views of Lucky Peak.   Bobs, Corrals, and Highlands Trail Loop: Photo by Jenn Jackson This 9.1 mile loop is quite popular for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Traversing up from the Highlands neighborhood towards Bogus Basin, views of the valley and surrounding foothills abound.  Check out our video on Instagram!  

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Our Favorite Nurseries and Gardens in Boise

As spring brings new life into the Boise landscape, the foothills begin to turn green and the air is filled with the scent of fresh blossoms. Fittingly, National Gardening Day is on April 14th and is the perfect time to celebrate these new growths and the joys of gardening. Whether you are an experienced gardener or a novice, these local garden shops in the area have everything you need to enhance your curb appeal or give some spring flowers. Plus, by shopping at these locally owned businesses, you're not only adding beauty to your surroundings but also supporting the community.   Edwards Nursery and Garden: Photo Credit to Edwards Nursery and Garden via Facebook. Starting as a truck farm by Thomas F. Edwards and Son, Edwards Greenhouse and Flower Shop has been serving Boise since 1930. Since then, it has remained a family-owned and locally operated business. Located within the agricultural district of the North End, this retail garden center features nearly 90,000 square feet of greenhouse space (heated exclusively by geothermal water). A darling retail shop, expansive plant selection, knowledgeable staff, and flower shop make this a staple for your garden needs. Address: 4106 Sand Creek St Boise, ID 83703     NEON (North End Organic Nursery): Photo Credit to Idaho Press.  The North End Organic Nursery is a 100% organic garden center, with an onsite plant nursery specializing in edible, native, and water-conserving plants. NEON is a locally-owned full-service source for your sustainable, organic garden and landscape. From fertilizers, growing supplies, and houseplants, to seeds and soil, this is a one-stop shop for your garden needs. There is an on-site nursery and their house plant selections are top-notch. Address: 3777 W. Chinden Blvd Garden City, ID 83714     Franz Witte: Photo Credit to Franz Witte. Franz Witte Garden Center is a full-service garden store that offers the best indoor/outdoor plant material, home décor, fountains, and everything in between. Their services include delivery and installation of plant material, bulk goods, outdoor decor, and a custom potting service. They carry a wide variety of shrubs, houseplants, trees, and plants, along with soil, mulch, gifts, and pottery. This beautiful garden center has helpful staff sure to guide you towards a successful garden this spring! Address: 20005 11th Ave N Nampa, ID 83687     Victory Greens Stone & Garden Center: Photo Credit to Victory Greens. Founded in the spring of 1993 by Tim and Carol Mussell, the Victory Greens Stone & Garden Center is a family-owned and operated business that has been serving the community for over 30 years. They have a complete landscape nursery that carries a huge selection of large caliper Shade and Flowering trees as well as premium Layered Spruce and Pine Trees of all kinds. They guarantee the best price, and they offer delivery and planting services.  Address: 4975 S Meridian Rd. Meridian, ID 83642     Madeline George Garden Design Nursery: Photo credit to Madeline George via Facebook. This delightful boutique-style nursery is a little off the beaten path, but a fabulous place to wander around. Arranged like a botanical garden, Madeline George Garden Design Nursery features stunning gardens and charming buildings with thoughtfully curated collections. Plants are displayed at the nursery based on plant types, sun exposures, and mature height. They also provide design and installation services. Address: 10550 W Hill Rd Pkwy Boise, ID 83714

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Best Plants for Your Idaho Garden

Photo credit to Gardens Alive. Located in Sunset's Climate Zones 1-3, Idaho presents gardeners with a unique set of challenges and opportunities. With hot summers, frosty winters, and limited precipitation, succeeding in the art of gardening in this region requires careful selection of plant species that can thrive in such conditions. Whether you're an experienced gardener looking to refine your techniques or a beginner planting your first plants this spring, this selection of beautiful plants is best suited to flourish amidst Idaho's unique climate.   Native & Drought Tolerant Plants and Flowers: Photo credit to Gardenia.net.  Great Blanket Flower. This western native plant is a beautiful perennial wildflower with daisy-like flower heads and a vibrant red and yellow coloring. These flowers bloom from late spring to fall, providing a continuous splash of color to your garden. It thrives in the full sun and average or dry to medium soils.    Yarrow. These flowering plants are native to the West and are characterized by their flat-topped bright yellow blooms. This plant is easy to grow, has high drought tolerance, and can handle a variety of soil conditions. It is perfect for naturized areas, rock gardens, and borders in the garden.    Wood’s Rose. This shrub is a native perennial plant that features deep green leaves with pale purple and deep pink flowers in the summer months. They make an excellent hedge plant in an Idaho garden, tolerating full sun in the summer and up to -10 degrees in the winter. Once established in the soil, they are extremely hardy and drought-tolerant.    Rosemary. This landscape plant is native to the western states and makes a beautiful addition to a yard. It is extremely drought-tolerant and feeds bees in the summer. Rosemary needs a little help to get through the winter, and finding a south-facing, sunny location will lead to a better chance of survival.   Common Snowberry. This thicket-forming deciduous shrub is a great garden addition with its ornamental, pure white berries. In the early summer, this shrub blooms with bell-shaped white to pink flowers. This plant also attracts butterflies, hummingbirds, and other pollinators. Low maintenance, this plant tolerates full sun to partial shade, and a variety of soils.   Salvia. Salvia is a stunning plant that features deep purple flower spikes. These plants bring pollinators in and rebloom multiple times over the summer. They are especially effective in mass plantings but also work well in containers and mixed borders.   Iris. Garden Iris are hardy, long-lived perennial plants that are very low maintenance. They bloom into beautiful blue and purple flowers in the months of May and June. They can live through drought and severe cold, making them a great choice for your yard.

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